DJARUM SUPERLIGA 2015 – Jaya Raya Thais show the way

Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan again helped Jaya Raya Jakarta to victory in the Djarum Badminton Superliga women’s team competition.  This time she had support from world #8 compatriot Ratchanok Intanon.

By Don Hearn.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

Thailand’s singles stars struggled last year.  After seven titles at the Grand Prix level and above in 2013, no Thais reached the top of the podium in 2013.  But for both Busanan Ongbamrungphan (pictured above) and Ratchanok Intanon, the professional team events brought a ray of joy.

Ratchanok was part of the Thai contingent that took the Axiata Cup in early December while Busanan had her glory when she was part of the winning Jaya Raya Jakarta team at the 2014 Djarum Badminton Superliga.  With the 2015 season only just started, both ladies can hope that the title they worked for together will be the start of successful individual seasons as well.

Ratchanok Intanon (pictured right) actually struggled at women’s singles, losing to tough opponents such as Yip Pui Yin, Sung Ji Hyun, and compatriot Nitchaon Jindapon.  Busanan lost just one of hers, when Jaya Raya had to rely on their Indonesian stars to squeak past Mutiara Cardinal in the final group tie, before which they had already clinched a spot in the semi-finals.

Both Thai ladies won their matches in straight games in the finals.  Jaya Raya took a hit in the second match, when Pia Zebadiah Bernadet / Rizki Amelia Pradipta lost to Renasas’s world #5 pair of Miyuki Maeda / Reika Kakiiwa.

Finishing it off for Jaya Raya was Asian Games gold medallist Greysia Polii (pictured left).  Polii and her regular partner Nitya Krishinda Maheswari had been undefeated in Jaya Raya’s winning run last year and this year was no exception for Polii in her scratch pairing with Anggia Shitta Awanda, whom she partnered briefly in early 2013.  Polii and Awanda won all three of their matches together in the tournament, including against Malaysia Masters runners-up Naoko Fukuman / Kurumi Yonao (pictured bottom) of Renasas to wind up the women’s team final.

Jaya Raya Jakarta’s formidable men’s team was unable to reach the final and instead it is the Djarum Kudus who will be looking to block Musica Champions’ title defense in Sunday’s men’s final.

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